$1.5 Million Invested in Local Nonprofits from COVID-19 Fund

News & Events

Imagine a summer without the local pool, library, summer sports, day camps and more. With programs closed or limited to smaller groups due to COVID-19, thousands of kids in our community will be missing these and many other fun summertime activities. In response, United Way of Central Ohio is launching United for Kids, a summer…

United Way of Central Ohio condemns the systemic racism, injustice and inequality that continue to exist in our community. The violent attacks and murders of African Americans and other persons of color by our country’s police force are alarming and must end. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected and who…

Our community’s nonprofits will require significant assistance to protect their employees and to operate effectively on behalf of their clients in a COVID-19 world, according to the third nonprofit survey conducted by United Way, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County and Illuminology. Overall, nonprofit leaders have significant needs in terms of the personal protective equipment…

The fourth round of grants from United Way of Central Ohio’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund, totaling $320,540 to 29 organizations, are being distributed immediately. This round of investments brings the total deployed to nonprofits in just eight weeks to over $1.55 million. Communities of color continue to be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and this…

United Way of Central Ohio distributed an additional $463,070, our third round of funding, to 36 local nonprofits helping families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. This third round of allocations expanded to include grants to seven grassroots organizations serving immigrants and New Americans, under-resourced communities that have been severely affected by the pandemic. These seven…

Significant disruptions continue to affect operations and revenue throughout the nonprofit sector. Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the operations of local human service nonprofits is an important step in determining where support is needed most. United Way of Central Ohio and Human Service Chamber of Franklin County have now partnered with market research firm…

How will you participate in #GivingTuesdayNow? Nurses. Doctors. Grocery store employees. Delivery drivers. Warehouse workers. First responders. Truck drivers. Cleaners. Nonprofit staff and volunteers. There are so many people who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak. They continue to help keep our community safe and the world running. To honor and celebrate…

United Way of Central Ohio will deploy our second round of COVID-19 Community Response Fund grants this week to 23 nonprofit partners on the front lines assisting families and individuals impacted by the crisis. The emergency fund has grown to more than $1.57 million in both gifts and match pool dollars thanks to the generosity…

On March 16, United Way launched our COVID-19 Community Response Fund with generous support from key corporate sponsors and leadership donors. In just two weeks, sponsors and donors answered the call, contributing more than $1.5 million in both match pool dollars and contributions toward the emergency assistance fund. We will distribute 100% of the fund…

Significant disruptions have already been felt in operations and revenue throughout the nonprofit sector. Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the operations of local human service nonprofits is an important step in determining where support is needed most. United Way of Central Ohio and Human Service Chamber of Franklin County have partnered to quickly…

For Part II, we talk with Michael Wilkos, United Way of Central Ohio senior vice president of Community Impact, who talks about collective impact. Michael acknowledges central Ohio’s neighborhood work is never done and challenges still remain, but UWCO’s…

For Part I, we talk with Michael Wilkos, United Way of Central Ohio senior vice president of Community Impact, who talks about his deep knowledge of our Columbus community. Michael discusses central Ohio’s economy and the challenges that many Columbus residents face in…

For the second part of our diversity episode, we talk with Shayne Downton who leads our diversity and inclusion work at United Way of Central Ohio about how our central Ohio community has changed over the past 10-15 years. Shayne discusses…

For this episode, we sit down with Shayne Downton who leads our diversity and inclusion work at United Way of Central Ohio about the history and importance of diversity and inclusion at our local United Way and central Ohio community. ​

For this episode, we talk with our recently named president and CEO, Lisa S. Courtice, Ph.D. Previously with the Columbus Foundation, Lisa started her new role at United Way of Central Ohio in April and has been on a…

Shadena always loved school and loved to learn. She dreamed of obtaining her college degree, but found it impossible to balance everything when she became a single mother. She withdrew from college, with the hope that she could return someday. Today, at age 39, Shadena is a full-time student at Ohio Dominican University and has…

Donna faced enormous challenges when she decided to raise her deceased sister’s children in addition to her own. A single mom who had just launched her own catering business, she had unlimited determination and love but limited resources. “I know what it’s like to feel rejected. I know what it’s like to not have what…

Jim and Molly have opened their hearts and home to numerous children. Four of their six kids have joined the family through adoption, including Braylon. At 16 months old, Braylon didn’t make eye contact, pull up, crawl or speak. Jim and Molly knew he was not where he should be developmentally so they set out to…

Alphonso couldn’t imagine a future beyond the drugs and violence he saw in his neighborhood. He was angry with everyone and everything, and was regularly suspended from school. At one point, Penny, Alphonso’s mom, almost gave up on him. “I always told him, ‘if you don’t get it together, you’re going to be in jail or…

April is a survivor who has battled and overcome poverty, addiction and human trafficking. “I was trafficked on the west side of Columbus for many years.” April said. “I was in and out of jail. I came from poverty. I just had this poverty mindset that kept me stuck. I didn’t strive for more.” The…

When Emi and Tia are together, an extraordinary amount of energy and joy fill the room, whether they are dancing, drawing or just hanging out. They like being together, and it shows. The teens clearly recognize and appreciate one another’s strengths, and they’re quick to point those strengths out to anyone who is listening. Tia,…

When Allie’s son Avett was born, there were several things she was not 100% prepared for: a broken leg, surgery, a diagnosis of Down syndrome and the high cost of childcare. The young family got through those first months by deciding to just “roll with it,” she explains with a calm smile directed at Avett,…

For as long as 18-year-old Joseline can remember, she wanted to go to college. At times, though, she didn’t feel like all her studying and hard work would be enough to get her there. Her Big Sister Zoraida, on the other hand, had no doubt Joseline would overcome any barriers she encountered, and succeed in…

More than 20 Linden agency leaders dropped everything in the middle of a work day and enthusiastically responded to DeLena Scales’ request to join her for a quick group photo during our interview. That tells you a lot about DeLena, a passionate leader in the community, who others trust and look to for guidance. “I’m…

After moving back to Ohio from Louisiana, Rachael was struggling to find a job that would pay her bills. After finishing a contract job running a summer youth employment program, she watched her small savings account dwindle. She knew her struggle would become insurmountable if she didn’t find help soon. “I had a couple of…